Katja

Losing, I think you have started what will be a very interesting thread for many of us. I will be following it for a long time to come. I have been overweight my whole life. Even from infancy, I was always big for my age and height. From about the age of 10, the pounds started to really add up. By the time I was 20, I was morbidly obese. I did all the diets. Failed every one of them miserably after good starts. Why am I overweight? I have no idea. If I could have found the answer to that question years ago, I may not have needed to be banded. The answer still eludes me. I will still try to find the answer to that question, but will not let the search or answer change my path. Getting banded was the best thing I could have done for my health and happiness. I am always smiling now. Any pictures that are taken of me show me glowing - not at all like any of my pictures taken over the last 40 years! I hope everyone who gets banded can lose their weight and become as happy as I am now and as happy as I will be at my goal!

Deat WV, Sorry to hear that your insurance company has denied you. Is it just your case or do they not cover any weight loss surgery? I would pin them down. Many docs offer a payment plan. Could your family afford to do this? In the end, it will cost your family less. Your health will get worse. It's only a matter of time. If your policy is like mine, you have deductibles and co-pays. All that money adds up. I would try any and every way to get this wonderful tool. I have been banded 14 months and have lost 75 pounds with it and lost another 30 pounds prior to being banded. I have about 40 pounds yet to lose. I got my tummy tuck last month. I am now the same size as I was when I was 18. Still too big, but a "normal" size now. I know you've tried every diet out there. I sure did - over 40 years worth of failed diets! The band works. I wish it had been available back then. I hope you'll be able to get it and have it work for you! Good Luck to you. I hope that lottery win comes. Our insurance system stinks! Everyone deserves the chance to get and stay healthy. Keep in touch. Let us know how you make out. Katja

When I was banded 14 months ago, I did really well losing without a fill. I lost 30 pounds in those first 8 weeks. My doc and I decided to go without a fill until my losses slowed down. I wound up getting my first fill at the end of 3 months post-op. I agree with you, if the loss is still going well, I see no need to 'rush' getting a fill. Wait until you are no longer happy with your progress.

Hey Everyone! After 14 months being banded and finally having found my sweet spot, this is what a typical day's meals are like for me: Breakfast: 2 cups of coffee 1 cup of yogurt 1 piece of fruit 2-3 prunes on those rare days when I am really hungry in the morning, I will have 1/4 cup granola mixed into my yogurt. Mid Morning Snack: granola bar Lunch: 1 slice very heavy bread with lots of whole grains and little flour in it. this is a very moist bread. 1 tablespoon diet margarine 2 slices deli ham or bologna 2 deli slices of cheese 1 piece of fruit Afternoon Snack: 3 prunes 1 chocolate covered cookie or occasionally a thin slice of cake 1 cup of coffee Dinner: deck of cards sized piece of steak or fish, chicken thigh or a good german wurst. one cup of cooked veggies or a salad with raw veggies and croutons Of course I drink a minimum of 2 liters of water a day. For an extra treat and pick up, I occasionally have a small glass of juice. Sometimes I will have a mini snack about 9 pm. I tend to stay up late due to my many evening activities besides being in the chat room! LOL! The snack may be a couple pretzel sticks, a handful of tostidos or another piece of fruit or 2-3 more prunes. Some days I need to add a little more, others I eat less. It all depends on my activity level. Hope this will help. Katja

I have always had problems with a tendency towards constipation. I have found eating 2 prunes with each meal heals greatly. It takes a few days for them to it soften the BM... You still might not go everyday, but that's okay. Try them, but don't go overboard... they can cause a lot of gas until you're used to them.

Well shame on me for not reading every word of this site... I think it's a horrible joke. Our society today is capable of anything! The reality of something like this occuring grows every day. The sad part is that there will be some who would actually do this....

These people have got to be insane! Implant a band on a 7 day old baby? That is sick! How can you determine that that child will have a weight problem that early? I have always been big, but not from the start... We all know 'big' babies that grow up to be quite thin. My niece had rolls and rolls of fat as an infant. She is now quite thin and lovely. My son was getting rather heavy before he reaching puberty... both sides of the family are rather large. Most of us could use the band. I have been banded. More on that later. My son is now well within weight charts parameters.. I hope the AMA or FDA or whoever can shut down a practice like this one. It's outrageous! This is unnecessarily mutilating helpless children! I am crying for those who will have to suffer this procedure... what will happen to their stomachs down the road? Like I said earlier, I have been banded. I reached my one year with the band last month. This has been the best thing I could have done for myself! But I am 53 years old. I have tried many, many times to lose the weight, but to no avail. I do think older teens who have been overweight since early childhood should be banded, if ALL other methods have been unsuccessful. but only after a good psych exam... not a quick cursory one. I think they should have at least one year of therapy afterwards. This is a major life altering change... I am not sure if most would be mature enough to handle it... Look at all the difficulties WE have as adults dealing with it... I sincerely hope that these infants will have someone to stand up for them against this inappropriate 'medical care'. THIS IS JUST WRONG! Katja

Hi there! I put a thread on here months ago, waiting for other American banders in Germany. I was so happy I went through the other threads again and found you guys today. It's a shame you didn't see my thread... we could have gotten together sooner! I am in the Stuttgart area. I was banded here July 30, 2007. It was and still is a great experience at the Bad Canstatt hospital where it was done. All the docs are super! Prof. Hesse is the best! After I was banded, found out that this hospital has the best reputation for Lap Bands in all of Germany. I can understand why! They have Tri-care patients too. (My hubby is civi contractor.) I don't know if you'd want to travel to Stuttgart, but they are good. My last fill was done before the antiseptic spray is dry! Is Prof. Weiner a German doc at at German hospital? Do you guys have a support group on base? Do you ever come in the LBT chat room? I'm there a lot and would love to chat with you! Katja